Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
ss265
member
Re: Entertaining Toddler on Weekend Mornings
Usually, I do the same thing we do on weekdays, only slower and more laid back. The kids get up and play and usually I get breakfast made. I make omlettes or waffles a lot on weekend mornings. Then I don't know, usually the baby needs fed, dishes need done, beds need made, a load of laundry needs thrown in. That's the time I try to teach the kids how to do that stuff, so it takes forever.
My DS loves playdoh, painting (brushes, fingerpaint, matchbox cars), books and playing on his train table or with his dinosaurs. I also got a few work books that have stickers that he loves to do.
Sometimes I'll lay one or two things out on his little table the night before to make it easy for us when we are still just trying to wake up ...
I'm a HUGE fan of the really big box of playdoh (I think it's like 32 colors for $20 on Amazon) and some generic "tools." If your DS loves trucks/cars, playdoh has a line of construction trucks. We now have a few of those and they keep him well occupied, just as often though he plays with the generic playdoh "tools" and his little toy dinosaurs - "making footprints."
The other thing that's been SUPER useful is a BIG role of brown paper... i just tear off a big sheet and let him paint/stamp/color. He really does love "making tracks" with his various matchbox cars.
I'm not "crafty" so I was kind of relieved to find he enjoys just creating things with simple supplies.
Workbooks are also awesome. DS LOVES to do a worksheet... little mazes, matching pictures, working on his letters etc... You can find them at Dollar Tree.
DS also loves puzzles so we do a lot of that. Sometimes we'd also take him for a walk to get Starbucks for the sleeping spouse. It's a nice treat to wake up to a fresh latte
DS has soccer and swim each wknd in the late mornings (indoor right now) and used to also do Gymboree.
After nap we hit a park or museum. We live "downtown" so we are close to children's, natural history and our state museums so we have annual passes to all and make much use of them.
We are also frequent fliers at the library. DS loves it - the books and puzzles alone. Plus they have story times and sing alongs, too. We pop in every weekend at some point. I highly recommend checking your local library - I'm shocked at how much ours offers
Well I'm not much help here because most mornings I turn on the TV and let DD watch Max and Ruby for 1-1.5 hours while I drink coffee and talk to my mom or sister on the phone. I need some downtime, especially in the morning when I'm wondering WTF just happened to my dreams of sleeping in.
While you got good ideas, the issue isn't things to do, it is breaking the habit for both your DS and DH. I used to be really good about 1 Disney jr. show a day but between the second kid and various other life things the kids are watching more tv then I would like. Simple solution is to turn it off. They will find something to do.
Obviously like everything else in life, much easier said than done. I would just have a talk with your DH and maybe agree to 1 show in the morning so he can have a few minutes to chill, then music is a great idea. I also think that a few months will make a big difference. At 4 and 2.5 I realized a few weeks ago that they play together/alone for long enough for me to make dinner and do my own things. It is glorious.
I would NOT give up sleeping in on the weekends so you can monitor or help rectify this situation. Based on your follow up post, I would say you and your DH can agree to disagree on how much tv is acceptable, and compromise on one show or one hour (whatever you agree to) of screen time. Then the tv goes off and it's time for an activity.
And so DH isn't stuck dealing with a screaming toddler who is POd that his show was turned off, have him make it something fun, like a toy that only comes out on Saturday mornings, or helping to make a special breakfast for Mommy, or a trip to pick up breakfast or to the playground or whatever. It can be as involved as your DH wants it to be.
Then everyone is happy and you still get your sleep.